Potato grater



May 28, 1957 A. SCHEINER 2,793,666

POTATO GRATER Filed Sept. 21, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

ABRAHAM SCHEINER MW I Mme/w A. SCHEINER May 28, 1957 POTATO GRATER 3 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 21, 1955 INVENTOR. ABRAHAM SCHEINER A. SCHEINER POTATO GRATER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m .r n n a 1; L m

A m h v/////// %w INVEN TOR. ABRAHAM SCHEINER @P lrrmwy May 28, 1957 Filed Sept. 31, 1955 Uni d S ates Pate 2,793,666 POTATO GRATER Abraham Scheiuer, Bronx, N. Y. Application September 21,1955, Serial No. 535,614

8 Claims. (Cl. 146--92) This invention relates to a potato grater, and more particularly has reference to a relatively compact, portable grater particularly adapted for use in the home, although said grater is equally well usable in restaurants or other commercial facilities.

One object of importance is to provide a potato grater which will be characterized by its ready separability so far as the several component parts thereof are concerned, thus to facilitate cleaning of the grater after use.

Another object is to provide a potato grater which, by reason of the particular formation of a rotary'drum comprising one of the component parts thereof, will grate potatoes and like articles with improved efiiciency.

A further object is to provide a grater so designed as to cause the drum to be properly journalled upon a stationary base for use, responsive merely to swinging of an associated cover assembly to a closed position.

Yet another object is to provide an improved potato hold-down means associated with a cover assembly so that it will be shifted clear of the drum when the cover assembly is swung toan open position, thus to facilitate cleaning and removal of the drum, and to facilitate, additionally, the cleaning of the hold-down means itself.

Still another object is to so form the hold-down means as to cause the same, in cooperation with a particular formation of the cover assembly, to hold the article being grated firmly against the rotary drum, the holddowntneans being self-feeding in the direction of the drum as the article becomes progressively reduced in size during the grating action.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference willbe had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of a grater formed according" to the present invention, the dash-dotted lines showing the holddown means in an elevated position and the cover swung to an open position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

Fig. 3 is a reduced perspective view of the base per se.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cover assembly per se.

Fig. 5 is a. perspective view of the rotor or drum assembly per se.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the hold-down means on line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side elevational view of the holddown block.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the hold-down block as seen from the right of Fig. 8.

A base 10 (Fig. 3) includes a fl'at, horizontally disposed, rectangular base plate 11 having corner openings 10' receiving screws 12 for fixedly mounting the base plate upon a supporting surface S.

Cast integrally with base plate 11, substantially medially between opposite ends thereof, and spaced inwardly a short distance from the respective sides of the base plate, are upwardly extending, vertical bearing posts 14- and 14 formed at their upper ends with vertical slots 16 and 16, respectively. Slots 16 and 16 at their upper ends open upon the upper extremities 15 and 15' of posts 14 and 14, and at their inner, closed ends 17 and 17 have semicircular inner end surfaces 19 and 19'.

Intermediate the opposite ends of the respective bearing posts, said posts are formed with threaded openings 21 and 21' receiving set screws 18 and 184 having knurled heads.

Between the bearing posts and the rear end thereof, the base plate is cast integrally with an upstanding, transversely extending rib 20, to the vertical ba cksurface 20 of which is secured a hinge leaf 22 carrying a hinge pin 24 extending along the flat, horizontally disposed, top surface 25 of the rib.

The stationary base 10 constitutes one of the three main components of the grater, and a second component comprises a rotary drum or grater assembly generally designated 26.

The drum assembly 26 includes a drum comprising a pair of oppositely but identically formed, frusto-conical drum portions 28 and 28 formed open at their larger, outer ends 31 and 31' and having fiat circular walls 30 and 30 at their inner ends 33 and 33"disposed in face to face contact and welded as indicated at 29 or otherwise fixedly secured to one another. The respective drum portions, from their inner to their outer ends; are formed with relatively closed spaced, circumferentially extending rows of outwardly struck teeth 32, adapted to act upon an article of food pressed against the drum to grate the same.

Formed in the end walls 30 and 30 of the drum portion are rectangular openings 35 and 35', receiving the midlength portion of an open-ended sleeve 34 the opposite ends of which, as shown in Fig. 6, project outwardly through the larger ends of the drum portion. Sleeve 34 is of rectangular cross section, and is welded to the drum portions where it passes through the openings of the walls 30 and 30 thereof.

Removably engaged in the sleeve 34 is a shaft 36 of non-circular cross section for a substantial part of its length, formed at its opposite ends with axial extensions 38, 40 of circular cross section.

On extension 38 there is formed, at the outer end thereof, a circumferential collar 42, while extension 40is integrally formed with a reduced axial projection 44 of noncircular cross section. The projection 44 has an axial, threaded socket receiving a screw 46, hearing against the inner end of a hand crank 48 having a non-circular opening mating with the projection 44 to detacliably connect the crank to the shaft for rotation therewith.

This completes the construction of the rotary grating assembly, audit will be seen that said assembly can be removed bodily from the base for cleaning. After the assembly is removed, the shaft can be readily extracted from-the sleeve 34 by removal of the screw 46 and hand crank, to permit the shaft and sleeve to be completely cleaned separately from one another.

To rotatably mount the grater assembly upon the base, said assembly need merely be positioned upon the base with the axial extensions 38, 4t rotatably bearing in the slots 16 of the bearing posts 14 and 14 of the base.

The remaining main component of the device is a cover assembly generally designated 50. The cover assembly includes a protective shield or housing 52, open at its lower end, and having vertically disposed, flat side walls Patented May 28, 1957 the respective guide wings.

in contact with the inner surfaces of the bearing posts. The housing 52, further, has a rounded upper end 52' concentric with the grater assembly when the cover assembly is in its operative position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1.

Integrally formed upon the lower end 53 of the back wall 53 of the housing 52 are outwardly projecting, transversely spaced hinge leaves 54 terminating in hinge sleeves receiving the pin 24, thus to mount the cover assembly for swingable adjustment between the full and dotted line positions of Fig. l.

The vertical side walls 55 and 55' of the housing 52 are formed with elongated, arcuate slots 56 and 56, curved about the axis of the hinge pin 24 and opening at their lower ends upon the bottom edges of the side walls of the housing. The inner ends of the slots 56 and 56 are closed, and are located approximately centrally upon the side walls of the housing. The inner ends 17 and 17 of the slots 56 and 56, further, are arcuately shaped, and curve about a center common to that of the rounded top wall of the housing, said center also being common to that of the drum when the housing is in the full line position of Fig. 1.

It may now be noted that with the cover assembly in the open position thereof shown in Fig. 1, said cover assembly will be swung backwardly clear of the bearing posts and rotor, to permit removal of the rotor for cleaning purposes. Further, the cover assembly itself is readily cleaned when in its backwardly swung, inoperative position, since the inner surface of the housing is fully exposed under these circumstances.

7 When the device is to be used, the grating assembly is inserted in the space between the bearing posts, with the axialextensions 38, 4t) seating in the slots 16 of the bearing posts. Thereafter, the cover assembly is swung to the full line position shown in Fig. 1, and it will be seen that the slots 56 and 56 thereof, during the movement of the housing to its full line position, will receive the axial extensions 38,.40. When the housing is fully in its operative position, the inner end surfaces of slots 56 and 56' will bear against the upper surfaces of the axial extensions, to hold the same against the inner surfaces of the slots 16 and 16 of the bearing posts. As a result, the bearing posts and the housing cooperate in providing a journal for the drum, so that the drum will be held firmly in proper position relative to the housing and base, while still being freely rotatable by means of the hand crank or by means of any suitable power device.

When the housing has been swung to its operative position, for cooperating with the base in supporting the grating assembly for rotation, it is locked to the base, by threading of the screws 18 and 18 inwardly through threaded openings 58 formed in the side walls of the housing adjacent the lower ends thereof.

The forward portion of the rounded top wall 52' of the housing is formed with a large opening 60 through which roughly paralleling the inwardly convergent walls of the drum portions.

The pointed, free ends of the guide wings are spaced away from the drum portions, so as not to interfere with rotation of the drum, and the article fed against the drum .by a hold-down means to be described hereinafter is supported against rotational movement with the drum, by As will be noted, the wings extend approximately radially of the drum, with the back or upper wing 62 being inclined slightly from the vertical, while the front or lower wing 64 is inclined downwardly in a direction away from the front wallof the drum, slightly out of the horizontal.

The hold-down means carried by the cover assembly includes (see Fig. 7) an elongated guide tube 66 formed open at its lower end and welded, at suitable locations along its length as indicated at 67, to the adjacent inner surface of one of the side walls of the housing 52. Tube 66, at its upper end 66, has an inwardly directed, circumferential flange 68, providing an upper guide for an elongated rod extending longitudinally and centrally of the tube 66. Rod 70 at its lower end is provided with a head 72 which can be formed with a downwardly opening, screwdriver-bit-receiving kerf, and surrounding the rod within the tube 66 is a coiled compression spring 74 bearing at one end against flange 68 and at its other end against the head, so as to resiliently and yieldably urge the rod 70 downwardly within the'tube to the position thereof shown in Fig. 7.

The upper end of the rod is threaded, and projects upwardly beyond the flange 68 a short distance. The threaded end of the rod is engaged in a complementarily threaded opening formed in an inner end wall provided upon an arm 76 of inverted U-shape, one leg 76' of the arm being shorter than the other, this being the leg to which the rod is secured. The arm 76 has its bight portion extending perpendicularly to the length of the tube 66, and the tube 66, as shown in Fig. 1, is inclined at an acute angle from the vertical, thus disposing the bight portion of arm 76 in a position in which it is inclined from the horizontal. As a result, the longer, outer leg 77 of the arm 76, being perpendicular to the bight portion of said arm, is disposed radially of the rotary drum, as shown in Fig. 1.

Welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the free end of the longer leg of the arm 76 is a flat, circular mounting plate 78 having circumferentially spaced openings receiving lag screws 80 threaded into a wooden hold-down block 82. Block 82 is of cylindrical formation, at its upper end, and at its lower, free end, is formed with fiat, diametrically opposite, downwardly convergent side surfaces 84 and 84 generally paralleling the toothed walls of the drum portions when the hold-down block is in its operative position shown in Fig. 2, within the large opening 60 formed in the upper end of the housing.

The bottom surface of the hold-down block is arcuately concaved, as indicated at 82' being curved about a center substantially common to that of the drum, when the hold-down block is in its operative position. Further, at the front and back of the block, said block is formed at its free end with downwardly convergent surfaces 88 and 88' hearing against the respective front and back wings 62, 64 when the block has been shifted inwardly toward the center of the drum in a direction radially of the drum to its maximum extent, the surfaces 88 and 88' extending between the downwardly convergent, flat surfaces 84 and 84, respectively.

The'rod 70, and hence arm 76 are rotatable within the tube, so that the arm may swing laterally to the dotted line position thereof shownin Fig. 2, to permit insertion or removal of a potato.

In this connection, fixedly secured to the rounded top wall 52' of the housing, and projecting upwardly therefrom at one side of the opening of said top Wall, is a stop pin 90 which, when a potato is being grated, permits the arm 76 from swinging counterclockwise from its full line position of Fig. 2, thus to hold the arm in proper position for grating a potato. When, however, the potato is to be removed or another potato inserted, the arm 76 is pulled upwardly to the dotted line position of Fig. l, the spring 74 com-pressing for this purpose, so as to be shiftable over the upper end of the stop pin to the other side of the stop pin. The arm and hold-down block will now be positioned in the dotted line position of Fig. 2, at the other side of the stop pin, and the stop pin will prevent said arm from accidentally swinging inwardly back to its operative, full line position under these circumstances.

In use of the device, a dish D or other receptacle is placed upon the base, below the lower upper end of the greases d housing. A potato is inserted through the large opening 60, and the hold-down block is swung inwardly to its full line position of Fig. 2, so "as to bear against the potato and force the same radially, inwardly against the toothed surface of the drum. The drum is now rotated by means of the hand crank 48 or by, a suitable power device, and the potato will be grated, with the resultant particles thereof falling int-o the dish. During the grating action, the spring 74, tending to expand, will continuously feed the potato radially, inwardly of the drum, by reason of the fact that said spring will cause a continuous, yielding pressure to be exerted against the potato by the hold-down block. Ultimately, when the potato is fully grated, the hold-down block 82 will be engaged at its surfaces 88 and 88' by the front and back wings 62 and 64, respectively, to prevent further movement of the block inwardly of the drum, thus to prevent the block from engaging directly against the surface of the drum. At the same time, the shorter leg 76' of the arm will engage against the closed upper end 66' of the tube 66.

The tension of the spring 74 can be adjusted by thread ing the rod 70 inwardly within the associated, short r leg 76' of the hold-down arm 76 to a selected extent, thus to permit the user to cause a selected amount of pressure to be exerted against the articles being grated.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A grater for potatoes and like articles of food comprising a base, a cover assembly hinged thereto, and a rotary drum assembly rotatably engaged between the cover assembly and base in one position to which the cover assembly is swung about the hinge axis thereof, said drum assembly being formed with a plurality of teeth for grating an article held thereagainst during rotation of the drum assembly, said base including upstanding, spaced posts between which the drum assembly and cover assembly are disposed, said posts having upwardly opening slots in which the drum assembly is journalled, the cover assembly including a housing formed open at one end to receive and enclose the drum assembly in said position of the cover assembly, said housing having downwardly opening slots at opposite sides thereof at least partially in registration with the slots of the posts in said position of the cover assembly, to define with the first-named slots bearing openings for the drum assembly, the cover assembly including an opening through which said articles are insertable in said position of the cover assembly, and further including guide wings at opposite ends of said opening extending inwardly of the housing approximately radially of the drum assembly, the drum assembly including a drum comprising oppositely but identically formed frusto-conical portions in which said teeth are formed, said portions of the drum being fixedly connected together at the smaller ends thereof.

2. A grater for potatoes and like articles of food comprising a base, a cover assembly hinged thereto, and a rotary drum assembly rotatably engaged between the cover assembly and base in one position to which the cover assembly is swung about the hinge axis thereof, said drum assembly being formed with a plurality of teeth for grating an article held thereagainst during rotation of the drum assembly, said base including upstanding, spaced posts between which the drum assembly and cover assembly are disposed, said postshaving upwardly opening slots in which the drum assembly is journalled, the cover assembly including a housing formed open at one end to receive and enclose the drum assembly in said position of the cover assembly, said housing having downwardly opening slots at opposite sides thereof at least partially in registration with the slots of the posts in said position of the cover assembly, to define with the first-named slots bearing openings for the drum assembly, the cover assembly including an opening through which said articles "are insertable in said position of the cover assembly, and further including guide wings at opposite ends of said opening extending inwardly of the housing approximately radially of the drum assembly, the drum assembly including a drum comprising oppositely but identically formed frusto-conical portions in which said teeth are formed, said portions of the drum being fixedly connected together at the smaller ends thereof, a drum assembly further including a shaft extending axially, of and rotatable with the drum and bearing at its ends in the slots of the postsand housing.

3. A grater for potatoes and like articles of food comprising a base, a cover asesmbly hingedthereto, and a rotary drum assembly rotatably engaged between the cover assembly and base in one position to which the cover assembly is swung about the hinge axis thereof,

said drum assembly being formed with a plurality of teeth for grating an article held thereagainst during rotation of the drum assembly, said base including upstanding, spaced posts between which the drum assembly and cover assembly are disposed, said posts having upwardly opening slots? in which the drum assembly is journalled, the cover assembly including a housing formed open at one end to receive and enclose the drum assembly in said position of the cover assembly, said housing having downwardly opening slots at opposite sides thereof at least partially in registration with therslots of the posts in said position of the cover assembly, to define with the first-named slots. bearing openings for the drum assembly, the cover assembly including an opening through which said articles are insertable in said position of the cover assembly, and further including guide Wings at opposite ends of said opening extending inwardly of the housing approximately radially of the drum assembly, the drum assembly including a drum comprising oppositely but identically formed frusto-conical portions in which said teeth are formed, said portions of the drum being fixedly connected together at the smaller ends thereof, a drum assembly further including a shaft ex- 1, tending axially of and rotatable with the drum and hearing at its ends in the slots of the posts and housing, the shaft having a non-circular intermediate portion and having ends of circular cross section, said ends of the shaft engaging in said slots, the drum assembly including an open-ended sleeve fixedly secured to the drum portions and receiving the non-circular portion of the shaft.

4. A greater for potatoes and like articles of food comprising a base, a cover assembly hinged thereto, and a rotary drum assembly rotatably engaged between the cover assembly and base in one position to which the cover assembly is swung about the hinge axis thereof, said drum assembly being formed with a plurality of teeth for grating an article held thereagainst during rotation of the drum assembly, said base including upstanding, spaced posts between which the drum assembly and cover assembly are disposed, said posts having, upwardly opening slots in which the drum assembly is journalled, the cover assembly including a housing formed open one end to receive and enclose the drum assembly in said position of the cover assembly, said housing having downwardly opening slots at opposite sides thereof at least partially in registration with the slots of the posts in said position of the cover assembly, to define with the first-named slots bearing openings for the drum assembly, the cover assembly including an opening through which said articles are insertable in said position of the cover assembly, and further including guide wipgs at opposite ends of said opening extending inwardly of the housing approximately radially of the drum assembly, the drum assembly including a drum comprising oppositely but identically formed frusto-conical portions in which said teeth are formed, said portions of the drum being fixedly connected together at the smaller ends thereof, a drum assembly further including a shaft extending axially of and rotatable with the drum and hearing at its ends in the slots of the posts and housing, the shaft having a non-circular intermediate portion and having ends of circular cross section, said ends of the shaft engaging in said slots, the drum assembly including an open-ended sleeve fixedly secured to the drum portions and receiving the non-circular portion of the shaft, said drum assembly further including means connected to one end of the shaft for rotating the same.

5. A grater for potatoes and like articles of food comprising a base, a cover assembly hinged thereto, and a rotary drum assembly rotatably engaged between the cover assembly and base in one position to which the cover assembly is swung about the hinge axis thereof, said drum assembly being formed with a plurality of teeth for grating an article held thereagainst during rotation of the drum assembly, said base including upstanding, spaced posts between which the drum assembly and cover assembly are disposed, said posts having upwardly opening slots in which the drum assembly is journalled, the cover assembly including a housing formed open at one end to receive and enclose the drum assembly in said position of the cover assembly, said housing having downwardly opening slots at opposite sides thereof at least partially in registration with the slots of the posts in said position of the cover assembly, to define with the first-named slots bearing openings for the drum assembly, the cover assembly including an opening through which said articles are insertable in said position of the cover assembly, and further including guide wings at opposite ends of said opening extending inwardly of the housing approximately radially of the drum assembly, the drum assembly including a drum comprising oppositely but identically formed frusto-conical portions in which said teeth are formed, said portions of the drum being fixedly connected together at the smaller ends thereof, the cover assembly including a hold-down means for said articles, one end of said hold-down means being extendable into said opening between the wings.

6. A grater for potatoes and like articles of food comprising a base, a cover assembly hinged thereto, and a rotary-drum assembly rotatably engaged between the cover assembly and base in one position to which the cover assembly is swung about the hinge axis thereof, said drum assembly being formed with a plurality of teeth for grating an article held thereagainst during rotation of the drum assembly, said base including upstanding, spaced posts between which the drum assembly and cover assembly are disposed, said posts having upwardly opening slots in which the drum assembly is journalled,

the cover assembly including a housing formed open at one end to receive and enclose the drum assembly in said position of the cover assembly, said housing having downwardly opening slots at opposite sides thereof at least partially in registration with the slots of the posts in said position of the cover assembly, to define with the first-named slots bearing openings for the drum assembly, the cover assembly including an opening through which said articles are insertable in said position of the cover assembly, and further including guide wings at opposite ends of said opening extending inwardly of the housing approximately radially of the drum assembly, the drum, assembly including a drum comprising oppositely but identically formed, frusto-conical portions in which said teeth are formed, said portions of the drum being fixedly connected together at the smaller ends thereof, the cover assembly including a hold-down means for said articles,

one end of said hold-down means being extendable into said opening between the wings, said hold-down means comprising a tube fixed to the housing, an arm projecting laterally from the tube, a hold-down block secured 8 to the arm, and spring means within the tube arranged to shift the arm and block radially, inwardly of the drum. 7. A grater for potatoes and like articles of food comprising a base, a cover assembly hinged thereto, and a rotary drum assembly rotatably engaged between the cover assembly and base in one position to which the one end to receive and enclose the drum assembly in said position of the cover assembly, said housing having downwardly opening slots at opposite sides thereof at least partially in registration with the slots of the posts in said position of the cover assembly, to define with the firstnamed slots bearing openings for the drum assembly, the cover assembly including an opening through which said articles are insertable in said position of the cover assembly, and further including guide wings at opposite ends of said opening extending inwardly of the housing approximately radially of the drum assembly, the drum assembly including a drum comprising oppositely but identically formed frusto-conical portions in which said teeth are formed, said portions of the drum being fixedly connected together at the smaller ends thereof, the cover assembly including a hold-down means for said articles, one end of said hold-down means being extendable into said opening between the wings, said hold-down means comprising a tube fixed to the housing, an arm projecting laterally from the tube, a hold-down block secured to the arm, and spring means within the tube arranged to shift the arm and block radially, inwardly of the drum, said block being generally cylindrical in shape and having downwardly convergent side surfaces approximately paralleling the surfaces of the frusto-conical drum portions, said block further having downwardly convergent surfaces extending between the first-named surfaces of the block for engagement against the wings.

8. A grater for potatoes and like articles of food comprising a base, a cover assembly hinged thereto, and a rotary drum assembly rotatably engaged between the cover assembly and base in one position to which the cover assembly is swung about the hinge axis thereof, said drum assembly being formed with a plurality of teeth for grating an article held thcreagainst during rotation of the drum assembly, said base including upstanding, spaced posts between which the drum assembly and cover assembly are disposed, said posts having upwardly opening slots in which the drum assembly is journalled, the cover assembly including a housing formed open at one end to receive and enclose the drum assembly in said position of the cover assembly, said housing having downwardly opening slots at opposite sides thereof at least partially in registration with the slots of the posts in said position of the cover assembly, to define with the first-named slots bearing openings for the drum assembly, the cover assembly including an opening through which said articles are insertable in said position of the cover assembly, and further including guide wings at opposite ends of said opening extending inwardly of the housing approximately radially of the drum assembly, the drum assembly including a drum comprising oppositely but identically formed frusto-conical portions in which said teeth are formed, said portions of the drum being fixedly connected together at the smaller ends thereof, the cover assembly including a hol-ddown means for said articles, one end of said hold-down means being extendable into said opening between the wings, said hold-down means comprising a tube fixed to the housing, an arm projecting laterally from the tube, a hold-down block secured to the arm, and spring means within the tube arranged 9 to shift the arm and block radially, inwardly of the drum, said block being generally cylindrical in shape and having downwardly convergent side surfaces approximately paralleling the surfaces of the frusto-conical drum portions, said block further having downwardly con 5 vergent surfaces extending between the first-named surfaces of the block for engagement against the wings, the arm being rotatably mounter upon the tube, the cover assembly including a stop engaging the arm in selected positions to which it is rotated upon the tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fischer May 24,

Lista Jan. 7,

McCoy Jan. 3,

Valenti Oct. 3,

FOREIGN PATENTS Italy May 28,

Italy July 28, 

